accession

[ ak-sesh-uhn ]

See synonyms for accession on Thesaurus.com

noun

the act of coming into the possession of a right, title, office, etc.: accession to the throne.
an increase by something added: an accession of territory.

something added: a list of accessions to the college library.
Law. addition to property by growth or improvement.
consent; agreement; approval: accession to a demand.
International Law. formal acceptance of a treaty, international convention, or other agreement between states.
the act of coming near; approach.
an attack or onset, as of a disease.

verb (used with object)

to make a record of (a book, painting, etc.) in the order of acquisition.
to acquire (a book, painting, etc.), especially for a permanent collection.

Origin of accession

1580–90; <Latin accessiōn- (stem of accessiō) an approach, addition. See access, -ion

Other words from accession

ac·ces·sion·al, adjective
non·ac·ces·sion, noun
re·ac·ces·sion, noun
un·ac·ces·sion·al, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use accession in a sentence

A description of the operation of accessioning in the New York public library (Reference department) is enclosed as a sample.
Papers and Proceedings of the Thirty-fourth Annual Meeting of the American Library Association Held at Ottawa, Canada June 26-July 2, 1912 | Various
Its system of accessioning will be abandoned as soon as possible.
Papers and Proceedings of the Thirty-fourth Annual Meeting of the American Library Association Held at Ottawa, Canada June 26-July 2, 1912 | Various
Note—In the decision to replace, the labor of accessioning and withdrawal must always be taken into account.
Mending and Repair of Books | Margaret Wright Brown
He also began the accessioning and shelf marking of the books.
Report of the Chief Librarian | J. O. Wilson and General Assembly Library (New Zealand)

British Dictionary definitions for accession

accession

/ (əkˈsɛʃən) /

noun

the act of entering upon or attaining to an office, right, condition, etc
an increase due to an addition

an addition, as to a collection
property law
- an addition to land or property by natural increase or improvement
- the owner's right to the increased value of such land
international law the formal acceptance of a convention or treaty
agreement; consent
a less common word for access (def. 2)

verb

(tr) to make a record of (additions to a collection)

Derived forms of accession

accessional, adjective

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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